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Anybody have any experience with polystyrene hive bodies? I've got a source of free woodenware, so that's what I use. However, I have been itching to try one of Betterbee's polystyrene hives to see if makes any difference.

I haven't tried a poly hive body, but I do have 2 poly hive top feeders. I was very impressed with the sturdiness of them, and they are much lighter than the wooden top feeders. The bees did seem to like them. A friend who I bought my 2 wooden hives from tried the poly hive bodies and he was pleased. I don't think you can go wrong.

My first hive last year was a Bee Max and the Bees wintered very well through a very cold winter. The model I had last year had the screened bottom board but no tray. I bought a few of the new Bee Max models with the trays this year, but have the trays out right now for improved ventilation.

The BeeMax hives are polystryene and not styrofoam so while the feel is similar, the BeeMax is much sturdier than actual styrofoam.
As far as being able to take a beating from hive tool prying, dropping etc. though, the Bee Max can't compare to wood in that department. I think the big selling point is they offer better insulation than wood for overwintering, and in my limited experience they have proven winter worthy. I have one of my hives in wood right now, but will be putting the frames in a Bee Max before winter.

Re: Polystyrene Hive Bodies

I started with 2 wooden and one poly hive from Betterbee. Not too easy to add wooden supers if you're having a large flow as the dimensions are a little different. Also they do need to be painted, as the sun will cause the polystyrene to break down.
That hive was my best one last summer and I am hoping they are wintering well in it. Recently bought Betterbee polystyrene nuc boxes, so I will keep you posted.

Re: Polystyrene Hive Bodies

My first hive was polystyrene. I hated it. I was always leery of busting it with the hive tool. It had a screened bottom with no cover. Idea was for mites to drop out of the hive, but since I regularly saw a big ball of bees under the screened bottom, I'm thinking any that fell came back in on the back of another. My tool dug into the body when prying frames, scraping propolis and removing burr. They don't mix with wood gear.

The only benefit I can see is added insulation during the winter, but since the other 99.999% of colonies live in wood, I can't be convinced that makes the difference worth the lack of strength.

I gave all supers, feeder, top, bottom and bees away because I couldn't in good conscience allow another to pay for it.

Re: Polystyrene Hive Bodies

I'm contemplating making a couple of nuc bodies from Owens Corning Foamular 250. It can be glued together with foamboard adhesive, is light, and the 2 inch I use for nuc lids has an R10 value. http://s1110.beta.photobucket.com/us...ml?sort=6&o=44
However, bees will chew on it and so I'll have to puzzle on that.

Re: Polystyrene Hive Bodies

Re: Polystyrene Hive Bodies

I am not happy with the EPS nucs I got from Betterbee. they are not holding up well. Bees are chewing them, particularly around the top bar rests. Outsides are deteriorating in the sun. I've cut large holes in the bottom [and screened the holes] of around 20 of them due to the excessive bearding in the summer. All-in-all I like the wooden boxes better.

Re: Polystyrene Hive Bodies

Search Beemax Hives and you'll find a thread titled " Beemax Hives? " by Jason G in Tennessee. Go to "Mabe" in central Wisconsin in the thread. If your going to use Beemax follow her advice, she knows what she's talking about. I did, and I haven't had any moisture or mold problems like everyone seems to complain about. I think Beemax hives work great. Never had trouble with chewing either.